Gilbergturm

The Gilberg rises above the Siegen district of Eiserfeld in North Rhine-Westphalia. Its summit stands 425.9 metres above sea level, with the Hengsbach settlement on its south-western slope. The A45 motorway cuts past the southern flank and the B62 passes to the north-west. A lower ridge called the Hengsberg, 402.4 metres high, lies just south of the main peak.

The Gilberg’s 5.65-metre steel lattice tower was built in 1888 for the Eiserfeld local heritage society. In 2005 visitors could still see Eiserfeld, Niederschelden and Siegen from its platform. By 2016 taller trees had narrowed the view considerably. Beneath the surface the mountain is riddled with old mining tunnels, including those of Grube Gilberg, Flussberg and Talsbach.

Above ground the slopes show spoil heaps and pockmarks from centuries of mining. A copper mine called St. Paul is recorded there in 1583 for its abundant ore. Paths wind past these relics, offering glimpses of the once busy industry. The Gilberg’s slopes remain a quiet reminder of the region’s mining past.